STRESSED? Here are 10 effective ways to manage it!

When there are too many things to worry about such as work, family, monetary issues and other commitments, juggling between them becomes a task. This, in turn, leads to stress which is your body's way of demanding a break or some attention. There is no proper cause of stress. It could be physical or mental and can affect your body and mind. You can end up being tired, sick, unable to think clearly or concentrate and maybe even lead to mental breakdown and in worst case scenario get a heart attack! Before it reaches that stage, it is important to manage it.

Here are some ways to manage stress effectively and be the best version of yourself!

Relax your muscles and joints

Your muscles tense up when you are stressed and this causes knots. Loosen them up by taking out some time off and heading for a spa session. Get a massage or maybe even spend some "me" time with yourself while enjoying a hot bath and sipping on wine.

Eat well

Healthy food helps control mood swings and taking a break for a snack can help relieve stress. Skipping meals can put you in a bad mood which in turn increases stress. To avoid this, you should have a balanced meal filled with nutritious fruits and vegetables to avoid mood swings.

Exercise

One of the major ways to relax your body and mind is to exercise. The blood circulation helps improve your mood and keeps you healthy. But for it to pay off, you need to exercise often - at least thrice a week for an hour for best results, according to experts. An added bonus to being stress-free - a hot body!

Meditate

Take some time off to meditate. Try your hand at deep breathing and watch how the pressure flows right off you! All you need to do anytime you are stressed is head to a quiet place, sit down, close your eyes and imagine yourself at a relaxing spot - the beach, the mountains, or whatever suits you. Then take deep and long breaths for around 10 minutes and you will instantly feel calmer and less stressed.

Make time for hobbies

Everyday try to set aside time for things that you enjoy doing. If you don't know what you enjoy, it's time to learn! Try your hand at cooking, reading, drawing or even sewing and knitting if you can! Even if it is just for 20 minutes, it is sure to relax you at the end of a stressful day.

Talk

Next time you are stressed out, talk about it even if it is just to yourself. Talking about what is bothering you can help reduce your stress as it usually helps in figuring out what is causing it in the first place. If you think it is weird to talk to yourself, head to a therapist - it's not a taboo anymore!

Rest

When under pressure, one of the best ways to recover is to rest. Get enough sleep. Your mind and body need time to recover from the events that put it under stress in the first place.

Listen to music

Put on your headphones, play your favourite song and turn up the volume! Jam out loud to your favourite tunes and you are sure to be free of all the stress. Music is known to heal and improve mood. It need not be quiet classical music. It can be loud metal stuff that you can headbang to. Whatever floats your boat!

Clean and organise

This might sound weird, but when you are stressed, organising your home or workspace helps. Decluttering your surroundings is known to have an impact on your mind and help organise and declutter it as well!

Play with animals

Hanging out with animals has a positive effect on the mind. That is exactly why patients, disabled people, the elderly, etc. are encouraged to spend time with animals. Head to a volunteer organisation or to a friend's place who has a pet, for some animal therapy!

Are you going to follow any of these tips to deal with stress? Let us know in the comment section if you hve other wys of dealing with stress.